5 Incredible Places to Visit in Italy

You can never run out of places to visit in Italy.

The country is blessed with beautiful architecture, history, good food and great wine!

I’m already sold!

Last spring, I travelled from Naples to the Lake District of Northern Italy with my husband and friends. We had an absolutely fabulous time exploring the country. So let me share with you the places we’ve in Italy been during this trip.

Here are my top incredible places to visit in Italy:

1.Sorrento

Located in the southern part of Italy, Sorrento is a charming coastal town in the Campania region. Sorrento is a very handy and reasonable place to stay when you want to explore the area with multiple convenient access to some of the most beautiful places in Italy.

What is it known for?

Sorrento is famous for their gigantic Sorrentine lemons and oranges. You can find orange trees dotted around the streets of Sorrento. The Sorrentine lemons are the primary produce of the area. They are huge compared to the regular fist-sized lemons. So if you manage to try a tasty Italian lemonade, it’s most probably produced in Sorrento.

I’m sure you will also fall in love with the beauty of the area, check out the view of Bay of Naples on sunset from the Marina and viewing decks.

Looking for the best accommodation, activities and tours in Sorrento & Amalfi?

2. Pompeii

Pompeii is a 2000-year-old city ruin resting at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. It is as if walking back to ancient Roman times, Pompeii is a glimpse of what it was like 2000 years ago before the wrath of the Mt. Vesuvius ruined its former glory and life.

Not far from Pompeii is another popular place to visit in Italy, Herculaneum. A less busy town compared to the bustling city of Pompeii back in Roman times. Herculaneum was also engulfed by the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius.

Travel tip!

Join the history walks around Pompeii to appreciate its history. You will also get to see loads of phallic symbols dotted around the ruined city of Pompeii. These are the markers for the brothel within the city. Follow the sign and discover the erotic side of Pompeii.

3. Florence

Arts and Wine lovers, anyone?

This is the place for you!

From the fertile land of Tuscany come the vineyards and olive groves. Seated at the heart of the Tuscan region, Florence captures the heart and tastes of many. Florence was a sweet surprise. The charming cobbled streets, towering statues in the various piazza and the jaw-dropping skyline of Florence from Piazza San Michael are just a few of the highlights of one of the best cities to visit in Italy.

What not to miss in Florence?

At the centre of the town, you can’t miss the towering and iconic Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore. The interior of the Duomo is something you shouldn’t miss.

Appropriate dress code is necessary (shoulders should be covered, and knee length shorts/ skirts are allowed).

To get the famous Florentine skyline shot, head towards the popular vantage point in Florence — Piazzale Michelangelo. It’s a little bit out of the main town centre, but it’s worth climbing the hundreds of steps toward the top of the hill to get to where the piazzale is located.

5. Venice

The home of the Carnival, canals and gondolas.

The architectural beauty of Venice is unquestionable. The towering churches and idyllic sunset skyline of Venice from Lido island is something you should not miss. The iconic gondola ride might leave you out of pocket, but it’s one of the most popular things to do in Venice.

A 40-minute boat ride from Venezia, you can reach the islands of Burano and Murano that are equally beautiful in its own right.

Burano is definitely one of the “Instagramable” places in Venice! The colourful buildings in the little island give a great cheerful vibe.

What’s the reason behind the colourful houses of Burano?

Burano is a fishing village 40-minutes away from the main Venetian island, according to legends the locals painted their houses in striking colours to help the fishermen to find their way home in bad weather conditions.

Murano is the home of the world-renowned Murano glass. It is known for its outstanding craftsmanship and quality.

How to check the authenticity of your Murano glass?

Look for the mark VETRO ARTISTICO MURANO engraved/marked on your glass piece. The cheaper the glass, the less likely it will be made in Murano.

Also, don’t forget to watch the master glassblower make Murano glass in the Glass Museum on the island. It’s Free!

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About The Author

She is named after a Russian city near Moscow. The Miss Zan-shine of Everything Zany. She likes to travel, history, meet people & try exotic foods! Planning to explore more countries with her D.I.Y trips as a Dual Citizen (British – Filipina). Explore, discover and learn.

27 Comments

I love when people write about spots that are both beautiful and often over looked. I hate crowds. While I would definitely visit Rome if I went to Italy, I would also head out of the city. Wander around smaller Roman villages. There is so much to see and there is so little time!

Thank you very much, Penny! I’m sure you would definitely love Rome. So much to see in that famous city! Of course, you can also visit the Vatican City when you’re there. Italy is such a beautiful country.

Italy is clearly a place you can visit a dozen times and still find tons of new places to explore. Every town and every village is so picturesque, it screams to be photographed. My favorite country, hands down.

I visited Sorrento and Pompeii when I was in Southern Italy for an archaeological fieldwork, and loved it there. Unfortunately I didn’t have much time back then (due to work), but will definitely return to explore the region of Campania in depth! Toscana is also a wonderful region, but we chose to leave out Florence (keeping it for our next citytrip) and roadtripped through smaller towns in Chianti. We totally loved their regional bread without salt! 🙂

Thanks for sharing this post! I visited Sorrento and Pompeii when I was in Southern Italy for archaeological fieldwork, and loved it there! Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time back then (due to work), but I’ll definitely return to explore the region of Campania in depth. Tuscany is also a wonderful region. To avoid the crowds, we chose to leave out Florence, and roadtripped through smaller towns in the Chianti. 🙂

While I wouldn’t call any of these places overlooked, you chose all beautiful places for a first or even second trip to Italy. I hope you also walked over the foot bridge from Burano to the tiny island of Mazzorbo. It’s home to the only remaining vineyard in the Venetian Lagoon and you can visit and taste at the small winery, which is also a very small boutique hotel.

We lived just outside of Venice for 7 years and can definitely give you some overlooked and off-the-beaten-path places to visit for your next trip!

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Hi! I'm Ryazan! The Miss ZAN-shine behind this blog. I'm a dual citizen (British - Filipina) living in the UK. I share stories and helpful tips about the best of both worlds.

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